Matias Mini Tactile Pro (and MQP) owners: Are you happy with the layout?

[macguy80]

...or is there some aspect of the layout (OTHER than the lack of numpad) that has you wishing you'd bought the full-size version?

I'd be a lot more confident on which version I wanted if it were a standard TKL layout. For me, it comes down to one potential problem: no space between arrow cluster and right control/right shift.

Is that a problem for anyone else, or do you have any other problems with the layout I might not be thinking about?

Thanks!

[Lunatique]

Personally, as soon as the TKL versions of the Matias switches came out, I never touched the Mini Quiet Pro again. I never liked the layout, and the only reason I got it at the time was because it was the only keyboard on the market closest to a TKL available.

The main issue for me is I don't like where the delete is. I also don't like the USB hub taking up room at the top. I think it's totally unnecessary because USB hubs are so small and ubiquitous already. I also really dislike the shiny finish because it is a goddamn finger print magnet and extremely prone to scratches. I got three visible scratches on mine within the first week and I'm not rough with my keyboards at all. Having to use the fn key for Home/End doesn't bother me as much since it's right next to the Page up/down keys so it's very intuitive. The arrow cluster not having spacing around them doesn't bother me either, since they're at the edge anyway so you can easily feel where the cluster ends.

IMO, Matias has got a pretty wacky sense of aesthetics and ergonomics, and his sensibility is not in line with how most keyboard enthusiast think. I'm under the impression his focus is on the average consumer and not keyboard enthusiasts, and whatever involvement he's had with the keyboard community is mainly because the community hounded him to the point that it was hard to refuse all the requests.

If you want a Matias switch keyboard, you'll be much better off with a KBParadise: =Y&s[short_desc]=Y&s[full_desc]=Y&s[sku]=Y&s[match]=all&s[cid]=0&s[search]=KBParadise+Matias]https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=search_list&s[title]=Y&s[short_desc]=Y&s[full_desc]=Y&s[sku]=Y&s[match]=all&s[cid]=0&s[search]=KBParadise+Matias

[macguy80]

Thank you for the KBParadise advice!

The link in your post appeared to be broken, but from what I can tell by searching the MK site, most of their offerings seem to favor the Quiet Click switches? I want the full Matias Click switch, if I can get it.

[Lunatique]

Thank you for the KBParadise advice!

The link in your post appeared to be broken, but from what I can tell by searching the MK site, most of their offerings seem to favor the Quiet Click switches? I want the full Matias Click switch, if I can get it.

What's your reason for wanting the click switch? Is it because you want the clicky sound, or you think it's more tactile? If it's for the sound, then yes, you'd want the click switch. But if it's for tactility, then there's no difference between the two switches--they are almost identical, and whatever perceived difference in tactility is really just aural feedback creating that illusion. This is coming straight from Matias's VP in an email exchange, so it's more or less from the horse's mouth.

[macguy80]

Actually, both reasons you listed. Primarily the sound, but when I asked Mr. Matias himself about the tactility, he said:

"...the Click switches bottom out harder so the feel a little more tactile.  The rubber bumpers on the Quiet Click switches soften the landing a bit."

So that has piqued my curiosity.

[Lunatique]

Actually, both reasons you listed. Primarily the sound, but when I asked Mr. Matias himself about the tactility, he said:

"...the Click switches bottom out harder so the feel a little more tactile.  The rubber bumpers on the Quiet Click switches soften the landing a bit."

So that has piqued my curiosity.

I personally don't count bottoming out as part of the tactility, since it's really the actuation point that's the tactile element. So not counting bottoming out, the quiet switch is as tactile as the click. But if you want the clicky sound, then it's the only choice you have. I personally got over the novelty of having clicking sound after owning a buckling spring and a blue Cherry for a while--it just becomes intrusive whenever I have any music of video playing.

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

I don't have a problem with the layout. I thought it was very easy switching from a standard layout board.